Electric switch



May 11 ,1926. 1,583,948

G. E. WEISSENBURGER ELCTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 20. 1922 Patented May 11, 1926.

GEORGE E. WEIS SENBURGEE, OF KEOKU IOWA.

ELECT'RIC SWITCH.

Application filed November 20, 1322. Serial No. 602,153.

My invention relates to an electric switch mechanism and is particularly adapted for use in connection with automatic pressure control of the circuits of an electric motor. l have used it to control the, motor operating the fluid compressor of an automatic rerrigerating apparatus, but it is, of course, applicable to .other uses.

In pressure controlled switches, the member actuated by the pressure 'device usually moves slowly en account or the gradual, rather than sudden, changes in pressure and it is the object of this invention to produce a switch mechanism in which the .separation and bringing together of the switch cent-acts will nevertheless take place with a quick movement and arcing at `the Contacts be avoided. A further object of the invcntien is to provide a simple and reliable structure for accomplishing the purpose mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in a section showing' a switch mechanism embo'dying my invention and showing associated therewith a pressure actuated device. Fig. 2 illustrates position of the parts when the switch Contacts are in off position and Fig. 3 is an end View ot' the apparatus illustratcd in Fig. 1.

l represents a casing in which is contained an expansible device 2 which will extend longitudinally under the influence of pressure applied through the tube 3. In retrigerating apparatus, this tube is in connection with a closed bulb or chamber located in the space to be retrigerated and variations in pressure result from variations in the temperature of the gas contained in the bulb.

On the end of the case l is mounted a bracket 4, of insulatng material, and having its lower edge in curved contour, as shown, and on this bracket 4: is mounted a pair of conducting blocks 5 spaced apart 'forming stationary switch contact members provided with terminal clamping screws G. In the closed position of the switch, these contact members are connected by the movable contact roller 7. The contact roller is mounted in the end of the contact carrying member 8 which member is slidably mountcd in the pivot member 9 rotatably supported on the main switch arm 10. The spring 11 surrounding the contact member 8 tends to retract that member and thus holds th contact roller in engagement with the stationary contact members or with the lower surface ol' the braclet 4-, depending upon the position of the switch arm. This switch arm is provided with an adjustable weight 12 and is pivotally supported from the case l at 13. 6 The weight is longitudinally adjustable on the extension of the arm and by this means, the apparatus can be set to operate at the 'desired pressure.

The connecting member 14 transmits the motion of the exoansible device 2 to the .switch arm 10, as shown, sufiicient play being provided in the connections to pormit the motion ot' the 'end ot 14: in a slightly curved path, determined by the pivetal movement of the arm 10.

In Fig. 1, the position oi"? the parts is 'that which th'ey occupy when pressure in the ex pansible device 2 has 'tallen to some extent, but not sufiiciently to cause the contact roller to move from its closed position. Further reduction of the prcssure permits the arm 10 to drop lower, which motion shifts the pivot member 9 to the right and at a certain critical point, that to say, when the position oi" 9 is such that the curved projection on the lower surface of the b-acket e no longer pre- Vents the contact roller from leaving` its seat in the closed position, the pressure of the compressed spring ll retracts the contact 8 carrying member 8 and 'draws the roller from its seat with a quick motion and, through cooperation with the curved lower surface of bracket 4-, causes it to snap into its off position, as shown in 2. The reverse of the actions just described causes the contact roller to be snapped back into its closed position. The spring and the inclined paths cause the motions of the contact roller to take place when critical positions of the switch arm have been attained. Consequently, although the motion of the switch arm will be gradual from one extreme. position to the other, the motion of the movable contact member 7 of the switch trom on to 'off position, and Vice versa, will be practi cally instantaneous.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a pivoted switch arm, a member carrying said movable contact and slidably and pi'votally mounted on said switch arm, and resilient means 110 tending to impel the movable contact toward the last named pivot point.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a pivoted switch arm, a member carrying said movable contact and slidably and pivotally mounted on said switch arm, resilient means tending to impei the movable contact toward the last named pivot point, and means determning an arcuate path of motion for the movable contact between its on and ofi' positions.

3. A switch mechanism comprsing a stationary contact, a movable contact, a member carrying said movable contact and supporting member for the contact carrying member, said supporting member being movable and also rotatable through a predetermined arc said contact carrying member being yieldably mounted on the supporting member, and means tending to impel the movable contact toward the supporting member.

4. A switch mechanism comprising a movable contact, a stationary contact provided with a seat for the movabie contact, a mounting member movable with relation to said stationary contact, a member carried by said mounting member having sliding relation therewith and having a free end carrying the movable contact, means forming a recessed seat for the movable contact in its ofi position, and resilient means tending to impel the movable contact toward said monnting member and into one or the other of said seats, depending upon the position of the mounting member.

5. A switch mechanism comprising a pivoted switch arm, a movable contact, means fcrming recessed seats for the movable contact in both its on and of positions, said means comprsng a stationary contact member, a member pivotally mounted on the switch arm at a point removed :from the pivot of said arm and having a free end carrying the novable contact, and resilent means tending to impel the movable contact toward said mounting point and into one or the other of said recessed seats, depending upon the position of the switch arm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and afiixed my seal.

GEORGE E. WEESSENBURGER. [L 5.] 

